Feeling Thankful, a photo by wbrightministry on Flickr. God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left. Thank You so much Lord! Lam. 3:23
I am sure that you have heard this catchy phrase used before – but what does it truly mean to Pray without ceasing? Does it mean that we have to be on our knees 24/7? Does it mean to constantly, throughout your day, bow our heads, close our eyes or be in verbal conversation with God? What did the apostle Paul have in mind when he penned these words – “Pray without ceasing?” Pray without ceasing means that Christians are to pray continually. We can’t bow our heads, close our eyes, and fold our hands without ceasing, but those are customs of prayer, not prayer itself. Prayer is communication with God, and we can live each minute of the day in a constant, flowing, conversation with God. There is significant, important value in a time where we shut out all other distractions and focus on God in a time of “closet” prayer (Matthew 6:6). But there is also room – and great value – in every-moment-of-the-day fellowship with God Further Reading Psalm 141:2; Exodus 30:1; Exodus 30:6-8; Hebrews 7:25; …
Too Busy I believe that every believer has in the back of their mind the notion that when they die they will go to heaven, or at least they expect to see him soon. But I don’t know how many of these believers live in a daily expectation and readiness of that reality. I don’t know how many have that burning desire to see him appear in the sky. The passage of scripture we are looking at today seems to teach that every one of us, on a daily basis need to live with that burning desire. Look at 1 Thess. 1:10: to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come… Wait a Minute The word “wait” is a word that is still used in modern greek today and it stresses a certain eagerness in this waiting. This waiting or looking forward to also implies a state of readiness. Unfortunately, many christians are not really thinking about heaven, they are too focused on the here and the now, too …
There are several places in the scriptures where the phrase “Let Us” occur over and over. I would like to share them with you so that together we can discover what we are being called or motivated to do. Romans 12:6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; Romans 13:12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 13:13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. Romans 14:13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. Romans 14:19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Romans 15:2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to …
Walter Bright 